[1][4] The contents include hard data, technical information, tables and ancillary explanations are compartmentalized from the flow of mainstream text, with profiles of nearly 2,000 wineries,[3] and recommendation of more than 6,000 producers.

[6] Weighed in by San Francisco Chronicle at 5 pounds, 11 ounces, its review states, "What makes it enjoyable to browse is Stevenson's openness as well as the almost hidden inclusion of short, provocative essays".

[3][8] In 1995 the title was altered to The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, while the current title has been in use since the 2005 revision, which also contained a vast number of upgradings to winery ratings, and for the first time incorporated symbols to identify wineries that are organic or biodynamic.

[10][11] Among the statements in contention is Stevenson's quote, "The development of [Pinotage] was supposed to provide Burgundy-like elegance in the baking vineyards of North Africa".

[10] In his 2008 book Sour Grapes, Pendock described The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia as "spectacularly error-prone".